lindsey graham offered some background yesterday afternoon. >> the president called senator mccain and myself a couple of weeks ago, and senator mccain was his opponent, as you all thou know, in 2008. i see the president reaching out. the dinner that was supposed to be quiet is sad that it makes news. >> he's right about that. graham's closest friends were on the list. graham also included republican senators who have a particular interest in the budget debate, so that included pat toomey. graham is the only senator up for re-election in 2014. miguel rodriguez was there. vice president biden, not at the dinner. maybe this is the start of a new outreach. in his first term, mr. obama's outreach to republicans was sporadic at best and though the president bristles when that's pointed out -- >> i promise you, we invite folks from congress over here all the time. and when they choose to come, i enjoy their company. sometimes they don't choose to come, and that has to do with the fact that i think they don't consider the optics useful for them politically. >> the fact of the matter is the wh